“All external links are intended for educational purposes only. Asheboro City Schools is not responsible for questionable, controversial content that may be found through links external to this site.”

Read a poem carefully for hidden meaning: click here .

We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar

  • Who is the “we” in the poem?
  • Why does the mask “grin” and “lie”?
  • In line 3, what is the “debt”?
  • In line 5, what does “myriad subtleties” mean?
  • In the second stanza, who represents “the world” and “them”?
  • What poetic device is the phrase “We wear the mask”?
  • Why do you think the poet uses this poetic device?
  • What does the poet mean by “We wear the mask”

Melvin & Steven explain poetry in their latest adventure. Put your headphones on to hear the special sound effects! Click here.

Poetry Aloud by Kristin O'Connell George

Examples


Compare Space Oddity by David Bowie to Major Tom by Shiny Toy Guns

Compare America by Arthur Laurents and Leonard Bernstein to Empire State of Mind Part II by Alicia Keys

Compare Firework to Beautiful